eBay to welcome the masses into showhouse

NEW YORK — When eBay opens its second annual designer showhouse this summer, the public will be allowed to tour the digs — something that was not done during the inaugural showhouse last year.

The townhouse at 148 E. 63rd St. in Manhattan will be open from June 12-19. Walking tours will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Tickets will cost $25, and proceeds will benefit Alpha Workshops, a designer studio for artists with HIV.

Eight designers have been tapped for this year's house: Isabelle Bosquet, Sheila Bridges, Shawn Henderson, Thomas Jayne, Lulu de Kwiatkowski, David Netto, Katie Ridder and Matthew Patrick Smyth. Each has been given a shoestring budget and must furnish their assigned rooms by choosing items on eBay. The furnishings will be resold on the auction site June 10-19.